The Manhattan Project was a top secret US government project during World War II to develop the first atomic bombs. It involved over 125,000 people across the US and cost over $2 billion. Key scientists like J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi and Ernest Lawrence led research teams that successfully tested the first atomic device in July 1945 and went on to drop bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, helping to end the war.

1. MANHATTAN PROJECT
Development of atom bomb
Presented by
Alvin Saji
EEE

2. Objectives
 The purpose of this presentation is to inform
you regarding the development of the first
atomic bomb (Manhattan Project).

3. This was a project to
develop the first
atomic bomb during
World War ll.
 “Manhattan project”
was a code name to
keep the project
concealed.
 The project involved
roughly 125,000 people
and cost more than
$2 billion, yet it remained
top secret throughout
WW ll.
 Production research and
productions sites took
place all across the
United States.

4.  In 1939, Albert Einstein wrote a
letter to President Franklin
Roosevelt warning that Germany
was secretly trying to develop an
atomic bomb and urged U.S to
do likewise.

6.  Roosevelt wrote Einstein
back informing him that he
immediately set up a
committee to begin atomic
research.
 He believed the United
States could not take the
risk of waiting and allowing
Hitler to have the power of
developing the first atomic
bomb.

7. o Research and
production sites of
the Manhattan
Project were located
all across the United
States.
o Laboratories and
manufacturing
facilities were
secretly constructed
just for project.
Main project research locations of the United States

8.  Many people were involved
in the project including
administrators, researchers,
scientists, and more.
• Top picture: Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard
• Bottom Picture: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico
Fermi, and Ernest Lawrence.
People

9.  J. Robert Oppenheimer
eagerly joined the project
at Lawrence's Radiation
Laboratory at Berkeley.
 In June 1942 he was
appointed as the
scientific director of the
Project.
 He managed over 3,000
people and is often
referred as the “father” of
the atomic bomb.
J. Robert Oppenheimer

11.  Born in Italy, Fermi
created a nuclear fission
chain reaction, which
was, critical for creating
the atomic bomb.
 In 1944, he joined the
Manhattan Project
and was the overseer of
the scientists.
Enrico Fermi

12. Ernest Lawrence
 During WWII, Lawrence
was in charge of the
electromagnetic
separation work at Oak
Ridge which provided
uranium 235 for the
atomic bomb.
 He was known as the
“Atomic Smasher” and
the man who “held the
key” to atomic energy.

13.  The world's first nuclear explosion
occurred on July 16, 1945, when a
plutonium implosion device was
tested at a site located 210 miles
south of Los Alamos, New Mexico, on
the plains of the Alamogordo
Bombing Range.
 A ball of fire rose rapidly, followed by
a mushroom cloud extending to
40,000 feet.
 The bomb generated an explosive
power equivalent to 25,000 tons of
TNT.
Trinity Test

14. Colourised video of Trinity test

15.  The Trinity Test resulted in
great success.
 This was the world’s first
ever atomic explosion.
 After President Harry
Truman received the word,
he knew the atomic bomb
would create a great
advantage in World War II.
Success
Truman in Potsdam, Germany after receiving word that the Trinity Test was a
success.

16.  It was finally decided to use the atomic bomb in the war and two more
atomic bombs were created by the project.
 The uranium “Little Boy” bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6,
1945.
 ‘The plutonium “Fat Boy” bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9,
1945.
Use of Atomic Bombs in WWII

17. Dropping the atom bomb “Little Boy” in Hiroshima
(Video clipping from BBC documentary)

19. CONCLUSION
 President Harry Truman’s decision to drop
the atomic bomb is one of the most
controversial issues in American history.
 The creation of the atomic bomb helped to
bring an end to World War II.